Ben Askren highlights issue Francis Ngannou is facing after leaving UFC

Ben Askren can relate to this stage of Francis Ngannou 's career. Ngannou (19-3) knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round of this past Saturday's MVP MMA 1 event at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The former UFC heavyweight champion was a big favorite over Lins and his prior opponent, Renan Ferreira, whom he also made quick work of.

Askren, who was undefeated before signing with the UFC, knows a thing or two about lopsided odds. "Actually, you know, that was one of my big issues is when Dana wouldn't sign me in 2013, and then I went to ONE Championship," Askren said on Daniel Cormier's YouTube channel . "So, I was thinking of this of Francis, and this has been Francis' problem ever since he left the UFC.

Maybe it's been like three or four years now? "It feels like a little while, but you need dance partners. And when I left Bellator and went to ONE Championship, I just didn't have anyone who could really fight with me.

So it was hard to build it, you know? And Francis is in the exact same situation where he's got no one that can really fight with him, and you need that to build a star. " Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in early 2023 as heavyweight champion.